The OIG used data analytics to identify offices with lost or stolen stamp stock shipments. We identified $29,000 of net expenses related to lost or stolen stamp stock shipments at the Woodbury, MN, Post Office between May 1, 2016, and April 30, 2017.

The objective of this audit was to determine whether internal controls over stamp stock shipments were in place and effective at the Woodbury Post Office.

What the OIG Found

Internal controls over stamp stock shipments at the Woodbury Post Office were generally in place and effective. However, security over stamp stock shipments needed improvement. The unit did not always adequately secure stamp stock shipments. Specifically, after arrival into the unit, personnel place the stamp stock shipment in an unlocked Stamp Room where it is left unattended for about 3.5 hours until the stamp stock custodian arrives and verifies the shipment.

The unit manager stated placing the stamp stock shipments in the Stamp Room has been an ongoing practice at the station. When stamp stock is not properly secured, the Postal Service is at increased risk for theft.

As a result of our audit, management began properly securing all incoming stamp stock shipments.

What the OIG Recommended

Because management took corrective actions, we are not making a recommendation at this time. However, we may follow up in the future as part of our ongoing financial control audits.

We welcome your comments related to the topic on this page. Complaints about the Postal Service, including lost, stolen or mishandled mail, that are unrelated to the content on this page, will not be posted. Please visit the Contact Us page for information on where to file formal complaints with our agency or the Postal Service.

Share this post

Latest Blog Posts

Nearly a decade since its rollout, the Flats Sequencing System (FSS) — the football-field sized sorting machines for flats mail — is still falling short of expectations. At its inception, stakeholders were optimistic FSS would improve productivity and reduce the U.S. Postal Service’s costs for...

What do Millennials like? That’s the 43 million hits question — as in Google hits. And that’s a pretty good indication of just how focused businesses are on this generation and its rising economic power.

The U.S. Postal Service is no different. It wants to understand how Millennials might...

Latest Audit Asks

The Management Operating Data System (MODS) provides data on workload, work hours, and machine-use. In addition to supporting operational planning, MODS data are used extensively in Postal Service costing and pricing activities. Supervisors may manually enter or adjust employee work hours and...

In December 2016, Congress passed the Federal Property Management Reform Act (FPMRA). The purpose of the FPMRA is to increase efficiency and effectiveness of the federal government, including the Postal Service, in managing its property by:

The U.S. Postal Service considers mail to be delayed when it is not processed in time to meet the established delivery day. Delayed mail can adversely affect Postal Service customers and harm the organization's brand.

Comments Wanted

We encourage you to visit our blog, which has a new topic for discussion every Monday. You can also give us your thoughts and opinions about upcoming audits on our Audit Asks page. Please refer to our comment policy for further information.